Dad Update 11/27/2013- Half Way There!

We have reached the half-way mark to finishing treatment! We are so blessed each day for the amazing doctors in College Station- because we all know Lar would HATE having to drive to Houston each day for treatment. Radiation is 5 days a week- 5 days that really knock it out of him- but man is he strong! Since the surgery, and due to all the medication he is taking, Dad can be very tired during the day- although he always manages to find strength to be up and going when I come home from work Monday-Thursday and ask about MY day and how I am doing. This man is so focused on everyone else that it completely blows my mind, and it makes me see what true love really looks like.

Before my Dad was diagnosed with brain cancer I wasn't aware of the different colors for each type of cancer, except for the popular pink for breast cancer, but now- now grey has a completely different meaning to me. 

It all started when my sister had a grey bracelet on that said "No One Fights Alone" and "Cure Brain Cancer". I realized this was such a great reminder to have- to remind myself that someone is fighting a harder battle than I am and to send a quick prayer that today goes well for my Dad. Sure Lance Armstrong seemed to make the yellow "Livestrong" bracelets pretty popular, and I too jumped on that trend years ago, but now I wear my grey bracelet for a different reason- My Dad. We sent some to an organization that is very near and dear to my entire family's heart- FCCLA. We wanted each State and Regional Officer- including their Advisor- to have a bracelet to remind them of my Dad's fight. We also purchased more to give to family and friends. Many of my friends from college wanted one- friends who now live all over the state, and some of these friends may have never met my Dad. But rarely does anyone know me and not know of Lar! I ALWAYS have a story to tell about Lar to friends or co-workers, because Lar and I have a very unique relationship:
Lar: "Whitney what happened to your car?"
Me: "Well, I may or may not have hit a raccoon." 
Lar: "Whitney, you either did or you didn't."
Me: "Ok, then I definitely hit that raccoon."

$300 later- Lar wasn't too happy, but I remind him now how funny that story is. Maybe not $300 funny, but it is still funny.

I recently told Dad about buying these bracelets and people wearing them- people he may have never met, or briefly met during my time at Texas A&M- and he teared up. He kept saying he couldn't believe people were doing that, wearing those because of him. It truly touched him and me as well- as I LOVE getting pictures of friends and family wearing the bracelets. We are all fighting this together, as the bracelet says, "No One Fights Alone". 

I read a devotional daily, and it's amazing how PERFECT they fit what is going on in my life at that moment:
"How precious are my children who remember to thank me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with joy in their hearts because they know that the light of my presence is still shining on them."

There is so much unknown going forward, and most of the time it is the unknown that we fear the most. Being thankful each and every day has helped me to find this inner strength- and as I tell my mom during moments of weakness- "Fear can keep us up all night, but FAITH makes one great pillow." 

Keep the prayers, thoughts, all of it coming to Dad- we are truly feeling the love!